Doheny Memorial Library, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0189 Public Domain. Release under the CC BY Attribution license--http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/--Credit both “University of Southern California. Libraries” and “California Historical Society” as the source. Digitally reproduced by the USC Digital Library; From the California Historical Society Collection at the University of Southern California Send requests to address or e-mail given USC Libraries Special Collections specol@usc.edu
Description
Photograph of a street scene of people boosting for tickets to the "Grand Ball" during the boom days at the mines, Goldfield, Nevada, ca.1905. Crowds of men, women and children gather around a raised platform where a several men are preparing to sell tickets(?). The streets in front of the corner of the block are literally filled with people. Several early-model cars are parked along the sides of the commercial buildings further down the street. Mountains are visible in the distance. Photoprint reads: "Probably rock drilling contest, Fourth of July. Gans - Nelson Fight is the fight mentioned on sign". Legible signs include: "The Mohawk headquarters, for visitors from San Francisco, [...] Tacoma, Salt Lake City, Denver, Chicago [...]", "Monte Carlo", "LaFayette Restaurant", "Miner's Exchange", "Waffle House & Restaurant, meals [...]¢ and up", "Hotel Esmerlda", on a raised platform "don't forget the Grand Ball to be given at Arena after the fight at 9 P.M., Goldfield Miners Union, W-F-M Admission $1.50". "In 1902 gold was discovered in the hills near Tonopah, Nevada. Soon a few tents dotted the barren hills among the Joshua trees, and the boomtown of Goldfield was born. In 1903 only 36 people lived in the new town. By 1908 Goldfield was Nevada's largest city, with over 25,000 inhabitants. Along with the influx of miners and businessmen, came the labor unions. The Western Federation of Miners, the Industrial Workers of the World and the American Federation of Labor all vied for power in the region. During the early years, the unions were able to control wages and working hours. But in November, 1906, the Goldfield Consolidated Mines Company was incorporated by owners George Wingfield and United States Senator George Nixon, signaling the beginning of monopoly control in Goldfield, and the start of an adversarial relationship between mine owners and the unions." -- unknown author.
Type
image
Format
2 photographs : glass photonegative, photoprint, b&w 21 x 26 cm. glass plate negatives photographic prints photographs
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